getchell



(ModeL) G. W. GETOHELL.

- BOILER FEED REGULATOR.

No. 274,186. Patented Mar.20, 1883.

Jpn/W N nuns, Photo-Lhmnphnr, wimp. no.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I GEORGE W. GETOHELL, OF BREWER, MAINE,'ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALF TO MANLY HARDY,

OF SAME PLACE.

BOlL ER FEED-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,186,'dated March 20, 1883,

Application filed September 1 2, 1882. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. GETCHELL, of Brewer, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boiler Feed-Regulators and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the in ventiomthat will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference-being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which is shown an elevation of my invention, partially in section.

My invention consists of an improvement on boiler feed-regulators, and will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- A shows a partial cross-section of a boiler with my improvement attached. At 1) is shown a pipe leading from the upper portion of the boiler above the normal water-line, and at c a corresponding pipe below the water-line, both connecting with a cylinder, cl. A pipe, e, enters the upper end of this cylinder, connecting with and furnishing steam to operate the feedpump. This pipe, at its end within the cylinder, is provided with a valve-seat, f, receiving a valve, g, workingwithin said cylinder. At his a short tube suspended on pivots h, or otherwise balanced across said cylinder, so as to move freely upon said pivots, either end being capable of depression. Within this tube is'a ball, as, capable of rolling from one end to the other as either is lowermost. At t is a float moving upona rod, j, in the cylinder (1,

between collars 7c in, fixed upon said rod, and.

having a connection, 11, acting upon one end of the tube It in such a manner as to elevate it when the water in the boiler reaches the desired height. To this tube It is also attached a connection, 1 acting against the valve g, so that when one end of the tube h is raised by the action of the float, and the ball a: by its weight rolls to the opposite end, the valve 9 is raised and forced into its socket in the end of the pipe 0, outtingoif the supply of steam from the feed-pump,'and consequently the supply of water to the boiler. When the water becomes low the float 13 drops, drawing down feed-pump, and supplying water to the boiler through the pipe 0.

It will be observed that the operation of 'my invention does not depend altogether upon the buoyancy of thefloat. When thelatter is suffi- ..ciently raised bythe incoming water it inclines the tube through its connection 12. the inclosed ball rolling to the free end thereof, and bri ngin g to sufficient weight when there to overbalance the weight of the float, rod, and valve, forcing the latter instantaneouslyintoits seat. As the float falls, however, when the water gets below a certain height, and ceases to sustain it, the weight of the float, rod, and valve inclines the tube in the opposite direction, returning the ball to its former position, permitting the valve to drop, and allowing the steam to enter. The connection or 'rod between the tube and valve arranged to strike against and raise it as the tube is inclined, allowing it to fall of its own weight when the support is removed. This arrangement is ample when one, two, or more boilers are used, feeding equally. When, however, a gang of boilers are employed, some of which feed faster than others, it becomes necessary to cutoff thewater-supply from the boilers as they become full, lest the steam from the more slowly filling boilers should force an undue quantity of water into those filling more quickly. To do this I attach to the lower end 12, I attach. a pipe, con nectin gwith and supplying the boiler with water from the feed-pump through a second pipe, 0,-leadiug to said pump. To the rodj in said cylinder I secure a valve, 1, fitting into said valve-seat, and closing the water, said valve being operated in the same manner and at the same time that the valveg is operated. Proper guides may of course be employed to insure the vertical motion of the rodj and to retain it in a vertical position.

The rod j and attached valves may be supported, at the proper elevation by any wellknown mechanical means-such as by extending the lower end of the valve-stem to form a rest for it below the valve, by resting it, by means of a collar, upon one of the vertical need not be secured to the latter, but may be of the cylinder 01 a valve-seat, m, into which, at

pipe 11 when the float is raised by theinflow of 0 the tube and openingthe valveg, working the guides, or' by any other convenient device-- Ioo as, for instance, elongating the rod j, so that the lower valve, when the same is open, will rest on the bottom of the cylinder.

In cases where the steam produced by the boiler is not employed to operate the pump supplying water, butwater is supplied by some other agency, it is evident that the upper valve, g, may be dispensed \vith,the lower valve controlling the water-supply, together with the float, and other mechanism remaining as shown and described.

Both valves are attached to the rod j, and supported by the tube, the ball being shifted to either end of said tube to hold the valves open or closed. When the upper valve is dispensed with, as stated, the tube may be connected directly with said rod j, operating h ugh it upon the lower valve, as before set forth.

w hat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a feed-regulator for steam-boilers, the combination of the valve 9, closing the pipe supplying steam to the feed-pump, with the float 'i, communicating at all times with both the steam and Water contained in the boiler, and supported by said water at orvery nearly at the level of the water-line of the boiler, balanced tube 'h, ball 00 therein, and connecting mechanism whereby said valve is operated by the combined action of said tube and float, substantially as set forth.

2. In a feed-regulator for steam-boilers. the combination of the float 2', tube h, and ball m, with the valves 9 and 1, operating respectively to close'the steam and water connections between the feed-pump and boiler, substantially as set forth.

3. In a feed water regulator for steamboilers, the combination of the float 2', rod j, tube h, and ball as, with the valve Z, all operating as described, to check the flow of water to the boiler when the same has reached the desired height, and to admit it when the wa ter becomes low, substantially as set forth and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day ofSep- GEORGE W. GETOHELL.

'tember, 1882.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. LEIGHTON, WM. FRANKLIN SEAVEY. 

